Food Safety Standards at Risk Under U.S. Government Shutdown

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The furlough of food safety inspectors at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a result of the partial shutdown of the federal government means that nearly 90 percent of imported seafood, half of imported fruit and one-fifth of imported vegetables will be left unchecked for health-safety standards, Food Safety News reports. Health officials say they are worried that there will be no one to stop potentially dangerous foods from coming into the country, which could be contaminated with pesticides, e. coli, lead, the hepatitis A virus (HAV) or many other health safety hazards. The FDA, which monitors nearly 80 percent of the U.S. food supply, typically blocks shipments from tens of thousands of companies with a history of tainted goods each year. With no one to recognize a potential food emergency or respond to it, controlling or informing Americans of any potential food-borne outbreaks will be nearly impossible until the government shutdown is over.